A SENIOR policeman is warning that Maidstone town centre is in danger of overflowing with bars.

Supt Mark Salisbury, area commander of Maidstone and Malling Police, says "enough is enough" and that the centre of the town does not need any more pubs, clubs or bars.

He was fearful that too many outlets in competition with each other could lead to cut price drinks - encouraging binge drinking among young people.

Supt Salisbury said: "We are confident that Maidstone town centre is relatively safe in terms of crime. If you're visiting on a Friday or Saturday evening, you're going to be met by a lot of exuberance and young people, but you're not going to be mugged.

"What I'm fearful of, are the wider, sociological implications of young people in particular getting absolutely drunk.

My officers could be dealing with not so much crime incidents as young people lying in the gutter, covered in vomit before 11 o'clock. There has got to come a point when you say no. Enough."

Supt Salisbury said he wanted to encourage the development of commercial outlets in the town, adding that there was a fine balance between having empty shop premises and new bars.

But he warned more bars might demand more police resources. He said: "We commit heavily to the town centre and we are trying not to do that at the expense of rural communities. "My view is enough is enough. We have enough licensed premises in the town."

His comments come after one of three planning applications for new bars in Bank Street, Maidstone, was refused last month.

Two more applications remain, and it has not yet been decided whether they will go before Maidstone Borough Council's planning committee or be dealt with by officers.

Maidstone - said to be Kent's clubbing capital - regularly attracts up to 15,000 people at weekends.

Supt Salisbury pointed out that Maidstone was the first town in the country to have received the Safer Socialising Award - reinforcing the town's reputation as a safe place to visit.

Town centre manager Bill Moss has backed Supt Salisbury. He said: "At present, I think Maidstone is adequately catered for.

"My greatest fear would be that if more bars open in town that increased competition would lead to price warring, which would lead to binge drinking. "This is something we wish to avoid at all costs."